Supporting structures



Dec. '16, 1969 D. R. BUTLER SUPPORTING STRUCTURES Filed July 25, 1967FIG. 2.

ENNIS R 3M1:

FIG. 3.

nited States Patent 3,483,998 SUPPORTING STRUCTURES Dennis Ralph Butler,Johannesburg, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa, assignor to G. K. N.Sankey (lroprietary) Limited, Johannesburg, Transvaal, Republic of SouthAfrica Filed July 25, 1967, Ser. No. 655,914 Claims priority,application Republic of South Africa, Aug. 7, 1966, 66/3,287 Int. Cl.A47f /10 11.5. Cl. 211-177 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Aboltless racking system embodying beams detachably engaged by uprightsthe uprights shaped as identical oppositely directed contiguous bendsand the abutting portions of the beams being of complementary shape.

This invention relates to supporting structures comprising columns andbeams and more particularly to such structures which require no nuts andbolts or other additional fastening means to secure the parts together.

Structures of the type above referred to are known generally as boltlessracking systems and are used both to provide shelved storage facilitiesand also have been used to provide skeletons to be suitably clad to formbuildings.

It is the object of this invention to provide a racking system whichwill have generally at least the versatility of known systems combinedwith a high strength to weight ratio.

According to this invention there is provided a boltless racking systemcomprising uprights and beams each upright shaped in cross-section as apair of substantially identical oppositely directed contiguous bends,said beams embodying connectors having one part of coupling means onsaid connectors, the uprights having cooperating parts of the couplingmeans to enable beams to be connected to the uprights at right anglesand in line with each other and each connector shaped to extend aroundat least part of a bend in the upright.

Further features of this invention provide for the bends of the uprightcross-section to be sharp angled bends and also for there to be threebends forming two pairs of bends as above set forth with parts of thecentre bend having portions common with the outer bends.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric View of portion of the racking assembly,

FIG. 2 is a plan of FIG. 1 but with all parts connected, and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are an enlarged sectional side elevation and planrespectively showing the form of locking tongues used in the assembly.

As shown in the drawings there are provided uprights 1 adapted to beconnected to horizontal beams 2. The uprights 1 are made from metal ofsuitable gauge to meet particular requirements and will be formed tohave a cross-section in the shape of two truncated adjacent V sections3, 4 with the contiguous arms of the V sections jointed together by aweb 5 forming a centre section 6 having parts in common with the outersections 3, 4.

The free ends of the outer arms of the Vs may have flanged extensions 7at angles thereto to provide added strength to the uprights 1 if such isrequired.

As will be seen from the drawings the outer sections 3, 4 of theuprights 1 are similarly directed to each other and oppositely directedto the adjacent centre section 6. The basic form of upright according tothis invention ice embodies only two adjacent bends such sections 3, 6but the addition of the third section 4 gives considerable structuraladvantages.

Spaced rectangular slots 8 are formed in the truncated apices ofsections 3, 4 and also in the web 5 which forms a truncated apex ofsection 6.

At the end of each beam 2 is secured a connector 9 or 10 of truncatedV-shape complementary to at least the portions of the sections 3, 4, 6in the vicinity of the truncated apices thereof. The beams 2 which arerequired to extend parallel to the width of the upright 1 are secured toone side of the corresponding connector 9 Whereas the beams 2 requiredto extend at right angles to the width of the upright are secured to thetruncated apex of the corresponding connector 10.

Secured to the truncated apices of the connectors 9, 10 are suitablyshaped locking lugs 11 shaped to engage through the slots 8. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 the lugs 11 are of channel shape with outwardly bent edgesforming flanges 12. The lugs 11 each comprise a short stem 13 having theflanges 12 at one end and a downwardly extending tongue 14 at the other.The tongue 14 is tapered from the bottom of the front end 15 up to thestem 13 and the top surface 16 of the tongue 14 also tapered downwardly.The whole assembly may be inexpensively made in the form of a metalpressing.

The tongue 14 of each lug 11 is fitted through a suitably positionedslot in a connector 9 or 10 to project from the exposed face of saidconnector, the flanges being spot welded or otherwise secured to theopposite face of the connector. A sufiicient length of the stem 13 alsoprojects from the connector to accommodate the metal thickness of thepillar 1 engaged by the tongue 14.

To connect the beams 2 to the uprights 1 the connectors 9, 10 areabutted against the corresponding sections 3, 4, 6 with the tongues 14projecting through the slots 8 and the beams are then lowered.

The inclined surfaces 17 of the tongues cause them to ride inwardly onthe bottom surfaces of the slots 8 drawing the connectors 9, 10 intoclose contact with the uprights and holding them in this position. Theprocedure is reversed to disconnect the beams from the uprights.

It will be seen that with the assembly above described and in particulardue to the shaping of the connectors 9, 10 to extend around the bends ofsections 3, 4, 6 and also due to the connectors having portions inclinedat angles to the beams 2 a strong and stable structure is achieved.

It the racking structure is required to carry heavy unbalanced loadsthere may be a tendency for the tongues 14 to move out of the slots 8.This may easily be prevented by the use of suitable diagonal bracing orremovable locking pins to prevent the tongues moving upwardly.

Instead of using lugs of the shape illustrated conventional tonguespunched from the connectors engaging in slots or pockets may be used.However, it is preferred to use the type of lug illustrated as theyprovide intrinsic strength comparable to the remainder of the structure.

If desired the beams and particularly those extending parallel to thewidth of the uprights may have the top inner edges rebated toaccommodate and locate wooden shelving or the like.

The shape of the uprights may also be varied and may for example be inthe form of V sections, U-sections semi-circular sections or the like,the connectors being made of corresponding complementary shape.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A boltless racking system comprising uprights and beams each uprightshaped in cross-section as a series of three substantially identicalbends positioned in line and with the center bend having parts in commonwith and being oppositely directed to the end bends, spaced slots ineach of said bends, connectors embodied in said beams, coupling means onsaid beams cooperating with said slots in the uprights to connect thebeams to the uprights with adjacent beams extending in line and at rightangles to each other, and with each connector being of complementaryshape to and embracing a separate bend of an upright.

2. A boltless racking system as in claim 1 in which said coupling meanscomprise lugs on the connectors, said lugs comprising a stem and adownwardly extending tongue with the lower portion of the tongue slopingupwardly towards the stem.

3. A boltless racking system as claimed in claim 1 in which saidcoupling means comprise sheet metal lugs bent to U shape in crosssection, said lugs embodying a stem and tongue downwardly projectingfrom the stem with the lower portion of the tongue sloping upwardlytowards the stem.

4 t 4. A boltl ess racking system as claimed in claim 1 in which thesaid bends are of truncated V shape.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,508,032 5/1950 Kennedy 211182XR 2,925,181 2/1960 Saul et a1. 211148 XR 3,278,043 10/1966 Kimpton 2111FOREIGN PATENTS 293,573 4/ 1965 Netherlands.

985,765 3/1965 Great Britain. 1,110,473 7/1961 Germany. 1,445,566 6/1966France.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner

